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TELEPRESENCE IN POPULAR CULTURE
A study of portrayals of presence
Forbidden Planet
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ABOUT THE WORK
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MEDIUM:
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Film |
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YEAR:
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1956 |
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WRITER(S):
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William Shakespeare (play The Tempest) uncredited
Irving Block (story) and
Allen Adler (story)
Cyril Hume (screenplay)
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OWN COPY?
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No |
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ABOUT THE STORY
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SUMMARY:
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from imdb.com
When Adams and his crew are sent to investigate the silence from a planet inhabited by scientists, he finds all but two have died. Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira have somehow survived a hideous monster which roams the planet. Unknown to Adams, Morbius has made a discovery, and has no intention of sharing it (or his daughter!) with anyone.
Summary written by Rob Hartill
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ERA/YEAR:
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Distant future |
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CHARACTERISTICS
OF WORLD:
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Space travel is normal. there are colonies on planets other than earth. |
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ABOUT THE
PRESENCE-EVOKING TECHNOLOGY
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NAME:
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Robby the Robot |
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DESCRIPTION:
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Robby is a smart servent and bodyguard robot. He is over 7 feet tall, walks on 2 legs, has features resembling those on a face. he is silver na dmade of a metal substance. He is clearly a robot, yet considered one of the family, sort of like a butler. He speaks in a monotone voice, very masculine. He asks questions and learns. He can replicate any food once he has analyzed it (tasted it). He is subservient and helpful. He exemplifies Isaac Asimov's 3 laws of robots. |
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NATURE OF TASK OR ACTIVITY:
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Robby is the household cook, seamstress, bodyguard, car, and general helper. People interact with him when they need him to perform a task. |
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PERFORMANCE OF THE TECHNOLOGY:
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very well. |
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ABOUT THE CREATORS OF
THE TECHNOLOGY
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DESCRIPTION:
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Dr. Morbius, a white scientists in his 60s. He is by training a lingust, very eccentric, claims to have an IQ over 180. |
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MAJOR GOAL(S):
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as a household help. |
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ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO EXPERIENCE PRESENCE
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DESCRIPTION:
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Dr. Morbius and his beautiful, young, white daughter. The astronauts who come to investigate, who are all handsome white men, average age 24.6 years. |
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ABOUT THE PRESENCE EXPERIENCE
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TYPE(S) OF PRESENCE:
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Social presence |
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DESCRIPTION:
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very nice. Robby will perform any task asked of him. Sometimes people are incredulous at how well he functions. |
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USER AWARENESS:
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yes. |
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VALENCE:
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enjoy it. |
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SPECIFIC RESPONSES:
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sometimes people are afraid at first, but then they like robby. he helps people and provides information. |
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ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES
OF PRESENCE
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LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES:
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its a bittersweet ending. Dr. Morbius and several crew members die, but the daughter winds up presumably marrying Leslie Nelison and escaping the planet. Robby never breaks and in fact, joins the crew in escaping the planet. |
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AND FINALLY...
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OTHER INFORMATION:
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Robby has appeared in several films and tv episodes. He's famous. |
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CODER NAME:
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Amanda Scheiner |
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CODER E-MAIL:
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amandags@temple.edu |
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CODER AFFILIATION:
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Temple University |
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DATE CODED:
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1/18/2007 |
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